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How long are car seats good for? Expiration dates by brand

Most car seats expire 6 to 10 years after they're made. Expiration periods by brand and seat type from 11 makers' own pages, and where to find the date.

By The Mom Site editorial teamUpdated 36 sources10 min read

Short answer

Most car seats are good for 6 to 10 years from the date they were made, not the date you bought them. Each manufacturer sets the number, and it can differ by model: in our check of 11 brands' own pages and manuals, infant seats ran 6 to 10 years, and convertible, all-in-one and booster seats ran 7 to 10. Your seat's label and manual are the final word.

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On this page9 sections
  1. Key takeaways
  2. Why car seats expire
  3. How long car seats last, by brand
  4. How long each type of car seat lasts
  5. Where to find the expiration date on your car seat
  6. When to replace a car seat before it expires
  7. What to do with an expired car seat
  8. Questions people ask
  9. Sources

Key takeaways

  • Most car seats are good for 6 to 10 years from the date of manufacture. The maker sets the number, and it can differ between models from the same brand.
  • In our check of 11 brands' own pages and manuals, infant seats ran 6 to 10 years, and convertible, all-in-one and booster seats ran 7 to 10.
  • Find the date of manufacture on the seat's label, usually on the bottom, back or side, then add the useful life from the manual. Many seats print a "do not use after" date.
  • Replace a seat after a moderate or severe crash. Chicco, Clek, Cybex and UPPAbaby go further and say to replace it after any crash.
  • Don't sell or donate an expired seat. Cut the harness straps and mark it before you throw it out, or recycle it at a trade-in event.

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Most car seats are good for 6 to 10 years from the day they were made, not the day you bought them. Each manufacturer sets its own limit, and the AAP's advice is to find the manufacture date on the seat's label and check with the maker for how long it recommends using that seat [1]. In our check of 11 brands' own expiration pages and manuals, infant seats ran 6 to 10 years, and convertible, all-in-one and booster seats ran 7 to 10.

We don't test car seats. The brand table below comes from each maker's own website or user manuals, read in September and October 2026, and the safety guidance comes from NHTSA and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Why car seats expire

There's no single lifespan that applies to every car seat. Chicco says there's no universally accepted lifespan because seats are built from different materials and processes, and it's up to each manufacturer to say when its seats expire [2]. Makers give three main reasons for putting a date on them:

  • Wear and heat. Graco points out that a child sits in the seat hundreds of times and the temperature inside a car swings from cold to hot with the seasons [3]. Chicco adds that parts wear, fittings can loosen, belts can stretch, and an older seat may have spent long stretches in extreme heat or cold, in a car or in storage [4].
  • New standards, cars and technology. Graco cites frequent changes in vehicles, regulations and safety technology [3], and Chicco says older seats may eventually fall short of updated standards [2].
  • A known age. The date label is how you tell how old a seat is. NHTSA says you need the manufacture date and model number to check for recalls and to find out whether a seat is too old [5].

The standards do move. In 2022, NHTSA adopted a side-impact standard for car seats, FMVSS No. 213a, covering seats for children up to 40 pounds [6]. A final rule in September 2026, written partly in response to manufacturers' petitions, set its compliance date at December 5, 2026 [7]. Seats built before then weren't required to meet it, although makers were allowed to comply early [7].

How long car seats last, by brand

These are the periods each maker publishes for its seats. Where a brand sets the number model by model, we list the model we checked, so treat it as an example rather than a rule for every seat that brand makes. Every brand here counts from the date of manufacture, and Britax says plainly that the purchase date doesn't count [8].

Brand Infant seat Convertible All-in-one Booster
Britax 6 years, bases included [8] 10 years (Poplar, Galaxy360) [8] 10 years (One4Life) [8] Harness-2-booster 9 years; belt-positioning 10 years [8]
Chicco 6 years [4] 8 years (rotating models [4]; NextFit Zip [9]) 8 or 10 years, by model [4] 8 years, harness and belt-positioning [4]
Clek 9 years (Liing, Liingo) [10] 9 years (Foonf, Fllo) [10] No all-in-one listed 9 years (Oobr, Olli, Ozzi) [10]
Cybex 6 years (Cloud T) [11] 8 years (Sirona M, discontinued) [12] 10 years (Callisto G 360) [13] 8 years (Solution G2) [14]
Doona 6 years [15] Not checked Not checked Not checked
Evenflo 10 years for every seat made since January 2025 [16] 10 years [16] 10 years [16] 10 years [16]
Graco 7 or 10 years, by belt path [3] 7 or 10 years (Contender 65: 7) [3] 7 or 10 years, by belt path [3] 10 years, belt-positioning [3]
Maxi-Cosi 8 years (Peri 180) [17] 10 years (Romi) [18] 10 years (Pria) [19] 10 years (RodiSport) [20]
Nuna No number in the PIPA rx manual; check the label [21] 10 years (RAVA next) [22] 10 years (EXEC next) [23] 10 years (AACE) [24]
Safety 1st 8 years (onBoard FLX) [25] Not checked 10 years (Grow and Go) [26] 10 years (Grow and Go 2-in-1) [27]
UPPAbaby 7 years (Mesa Max) [28] or 10 years (Mesa V3) [29] 10 years (Rove) [30] Not checked Not checked

A few notes on reading the table:

  • Evenflo says all of its car seats and boosters now have a 10-year expiration from the date of manufacture, but a seat made before January 2025 may have a different date, so follow the label on the seat you own [16].
  • Graco sets the period by how the seat is built, not by type: 10 years for belt-positioning boosters and for harnessed seats with a steel-reinforced belt path, and 7 years for harnessed seats with a plastic-reinforced belt path, such as the Contender 65 convertible [3]. Your manual, or the stamp on the seat, says which applies.
  • Maxi-Cosi and Safety 1st say expiration dates across their seats range from 8 to 12 years, depending on the product [31][32]. None of the manuals we read went past 10.
  • UPPAbaby changed within one product line: the Mesa Max manual says 7 years, and the newer Mesa V3 manual says 10 [28][29].
  • Nuna's convertible, all-in-one and booster manuals say not to use a seat that's more than 10 years old [22][23][24]. Its PIPA rx infant seat manual sends you to the label on the underside of the base or carrier instead [21].

We left out brands whose current period we couldn't confirm on the maker's own site.

For model-by-model lifespans, label locations and recalls, see the brand guides: Graco, Evenflo, Chicco, Britax, Nuna, Doona, Clek, Maxi-Cosi, Safety 1st and Cosco.

How long each type of car seat lasts

Pulling the table together by seat type:

  • Infant car seats: 6 to 10 years. Britax, Chicco, Cybex and Doona give theirs 6 years [8][4][11][15]. At the long end, Evenflo seats made since January 2025 and UPPAbaby's Mesa V3 get 10 [16][29].
  • Convertible seats: 7 to 10 years. Graco's plastic-reinforced harnessed seats get 7 [3], Chicco and Cybex 8 [9][12], Clek 9 [10], and Britax, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna and UPPAbaby 10 [8][18][22][30].
  • All-in-one seats: 7 to 10 years, mostly 10. Chicco's run 8 or 10 depending on the model [4], Graco's 7 or 10 depending on the belt path [3], and Britax, Cybex, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna and Safety 1st give theirs 10 [8][13][19][23][26].
  • Boosters: 8 to 10 years. Chicco and Cybex give their boosters 8 [4][14], Clek 9 [10], and Graco, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna and Safety 1st 10 [3][20][24][27]. Britax's belt-positioning boosters get 10, but its harness-2-booster seats get 9 [8].

Infant seat bases expire too. Britax gives its infant seat bases the same 6 years as the carriers [8]. Chicco prints dates on the base as well as the seat [2], and Nuna's PIPA rx manual points to the label on the underside of the base or the carrier [21]. A spare base bought later may have a different manufacture date than your carrier.

The clock starts before you buy. Because the period runs from the manufacture date, a seat that sat in a warehouse for a year has a year less left. Check the date on the label when you buy, especially if you hope to use an infant seat for a second baby.

Where to find the expiration date on your car seat

You need two things: the date the seat was made and its useful life. Here's where to look.

  1. The date-of-manufacture label. It's usually a sticker on the bottom, back or side of the seat. Evenflo puts it on the bottom, side or back [16], and Cybex puts its manufacture and expiration dates on a sticker under its infant seats [11]. Britax lists the spot for each model, from the underside of its infant seats next to the harness slots to under the cover on its boosters [8].
  2. A "do not use after" date. Many seats print the expiration date itself. Evenflo's label shows it next to the model name [16], and Nuna's manuals point to a label or stamped "do not use after" date on the bottom of the seat [22]. Chicco prints its dates on the underside of the seat, on the base, on an adhesive label and on the registration card [2].
  3. If you only find a manufacture date, add the useful life. Graco's formula is date of manufacture plus useful life equals expiration: a seat made March 15, 2020, with a 10-year life expires March 15, 2030. Graco puts the useful life in the manual and stamps it into the seat as a "Do not use this child restraint…" line [3].

No label? Don't use the seat. Without the date and model number, you can't check for recalls or tell whether the seat is too old [5][1]. Lost the manual? NHTSA says you can order one from the manufacturer [5].

While you're looking, register the seat with its maker, by mailing the card that came with it or online, so the company can reach you about a recall. To check for a recall, call the manufacturer or NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 [1].

When to replace a car seat before it expires

The expiration date is the latest you can use a seat, not a promise it's fine until then. Replace it sooner in these cases.

After a moderate or severe crash. NHTSA recommends replacing car seats after a moderate or severe crash, and says never to use one that's been in one. It counts a crash as minor only if all five of these are true: the vehicle could be driven away, the door nearest the car seat wasn't damaged, no one in the vehicle was hurt, the air bags didn't deploy, and there's no visible damage to the seat [33].

After any crash, if your maker says so. NHTSA also says to follow the manufacturer's instructions [33], and several makers are stricter than NHTSA:

Brand What it says about a minor crash
Britax Use NHTSA's guidelines to decide whether the seat is still safe [34]
Chicco Never use a seat that's been in any crash, including minor ones [2]
Clek Replace the seat after a collision of any kind, regardless of severity [35]
Cybex Replace the seat after a crash of any kind, even if it was empty [11]
Maxi-Cosi and Safety 1st Strongly recommend replacing even after a minor crash, and add that a seat may not need replacing if the crash meets all of NHTSA's criteria [17][26]
Nuna Seats don't automatically need replacing after a minor crash, as NHTSA defines it [22]
UPPAbaby Don't use the seat if it has been in a vehicle accident [30]

If it's missing labels, parts or instructions, or has an open recall. NHTSA's used car seat checklist says a second-hand seat may be okay only if it has never been in a moderate to severe crash, has its date and model labels, has no recalls, has all its parts and has its instruction book [5].

If you don't know its history. The AAP's advice is to avoid used car seats when you don't know where they've been [1]. A seat from a stranger can look fine and still have been in a crash.

Planning for a second baby? Graco says a younger sibling may be able to use an older child's infant seat if it hasn't expired and its pads and hardware are in good condition [3]. Do the math first: an infant seat made in 2023 with a 6-year life expires in 2029, so it won't cover a baby born in 2028 for long.

To check a seat's recall history, see car seat recalls.

What to do with an expired car seat

Stop using it, and make sure nobody else can. Chicco says never to donate or give an expired seat to someone else [2]. Graco suggests these steps before it goes out [3]:

  1. Remove the cover.
  2. Cut or remove the harness straps.
  3. Write "DO NOT USE, EXPIRED" on the seat with a permanent marker.
  4. Put it in a black garbage bag, then take it to be recycled or thrown away.

Trade-in events. Target's fall 2026 car seat trade-in ran from September 20 to October 3, 2026. It took any old car seat at participating stores in exchange for a 20% Target Circle bonus on new baby gear, and Target says the event, now in its 10th year, has recycled more than 3.8 million car seats [36]. That event has ended, so check Target's site for the next one. Your local solid waste department can tell you whether it takes car seats for recycling.

Getting the next seat. If a new seat is a stretch, Medicaid health plans, Safe Kids coalitions and 211 can help, and our guide to getting a free car seat lists the plans we found and where to get a free installation check. If your baby is ready for the next stage, compare infant vs convertible car seats or browse models in our guides to infant car seats and convertible car seats, check what your state requires at each stage on our car seat laws by state page, and see our baby registry checklist for the rest of the list.

Questions people ask

How long are car seats good for?

Usually 6 to 10 years from the date of manufacture, not the purchase date. In our check of 11 brands, infant seats ran 6 to 10 years and convertible, all-in-one and booster seats ran 7 to 10. The label or manual on your seat gives its exact limit.

Where is the expiration date on a car seat?

Look for the date-of-manufacture label, usually a sticker on the bottom, back or side of the seat. Many seats also print or stamp a "do not use after" date. If yours only shows the manufacture date, add the useful life listed in the manual.

How long are infant car seats good for?

6 to 10 years, depending on the maker and model. Britax, Chicco, Cybex and Doona give their infant seats 6 years, Maxi-Cosi's Peri 180 and Safety 1st's onBoard FLX get 8, Clek's get 9, and Evenflo seats made since January 2025 get 10.

Do car seat bases expire?

Yes. Britax gives its infant seat bases the same 6 years as its carriers, and Chicco and Nuna put dates on the base too. A base bought separately may have been made on a different date than the carrier, so check its own label.

Can I still use a car seat after a minor accident?

NHTSA says a seat doesn't automatically need replacing after a minor crash, which it defines with five conditions. But it also says to follow the maker, and Chicco, Clek, Cybex and UPPAbaby say to replace a seat after any crash. Check your manual.

Can I reuse a car seat for my second baby?

Only if it won't expire while your baby is using it, has never been in a moderate or severe crash, has its labels, parts and instructions, and has no open recalls. Add the seat's useful life to its manufacture date before you count on it.

Sources

Numbers in brackets in the guide link to these sources.

  1. 1.Car Seats: Information for FamiliesAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org), 2026
  2. 2.Why Do Car Seats ExpireChicco USA, 2026
  3. 3.Car Seat ExpirationGraco Baby (Newell Brands), 2026
  4. 4.Car Seat Safety: How Long Car Seats Last & Common Questions AnsweredChicco USA, 2026
  5. 5.Used Car Seat Safety ChecklistNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2026
  6. 6.Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Child Restraint Systems, Child Restraint Systems—Side Impact Protection (final rule, 87 FR 39234)National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (Federal Register, via GovInfo), 2022
  7. 7.FMVSS No. 213a, Child Restraint Systems—Side Impact Protection; FMVSS Nos. 213 and 213b (final rule, docket NHTSA-2025-0046)National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (Federal Register), 2026
  8. 8.Car Seat Expiration and Date of Manufacture: A Britax GuideBritax USA, 2026
  9. 9.NextFit Zip Convertible Car Seat Product ManualChicco USA, 2026
  10. 10.When does my seat expire? What is my seat's expiry date?Clek Inc. (support center), 2026
  11. 11.Cloud T with Load Leg Base (product page and FAQ)CYBEX (US), 2026
  12. 12.Sirona M (product page and FAQ)CYBEX (US), 2026
  13. 13.Callisto G 360 (product page and FAQ)CYBEX (US), 2026
  14. 14.Solution G2 (product page and FAQ)CYBEX (US), 2026
  15. 15.Myths vs facts: what you need to know about car seat safetyDoona, 2024
  16. 16.When Do Car Seats Expire? What Parents Need to KnowEvenflo, 2026
  17. 17.Peri 180 Rotating Infant Car Seat User GuideMaxi-Cosi (Dorel Juvenile Group), 2025
  18. 18.Romi Convertible Car Seat User GuideMaxi-Cosi (Dorel Juvenile Group), 2025
  19. 19.Pria All-in-One Convertible Car Seat User GuideMaxi-Cosi (Dorel Juvenile Group), 2025
  20. 20.RodiSport Booster Seat User GuideMaxi-Cosi (Dorel Juvenile Group), 2025
  21. 21.PIPA rx Infant Car Seat User Manual (US)Nuna, 2026
  22. 22.RAVA next Convertible Car Seat User Manual (US)Nuna, 2026
  23. 23.EXEC next All-in-One Car Seat User Manual (US)Nuna, 2026
  24. 24.AACE High-Back Booster User Manual (US)Nuna, 2026
  25. 25.onBoard FLX Infant Car Seat User GuideSafety 1st (Dorel Juvenile Group), 2025
  26. 26.Grow and Go All-in-One Convertible Car Seat User GuideSafety 1st (Dorel Juvenile Group), 2025
  27. 27.Grow and Go 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster User GuideSafety 1st (Dorel Juvenile Group), 2025
  28. 28.Mesa Max Infant Car Seat Manual (09/2023)UPPAbaby, 2023
  29. 29.Mesa V3 Infant Car Seat Manual (12/2025)UPPAbaby, 2025
  30. 30.Rove Convertible Car Seat Manual (03/2025)UPPAbaby, 2025
  31. 31.Maxi-Cosi Car Seat ExpirationMaxi-Cosi (US), 2026
  32. 32.Safety 1st Car Seat Expiration DatesSafety 1st (US), 2026
  33. 33.Car Seat Use After a CrashNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2026
  34. 34.After a Car Crash FAQsBritax USA, 2026
  35. 35.Accident Replacement PolicyClek Inc., 2026
  36. 36.Target Car Seat Trade-In Event Returns for Fall 2026Target Corporation, 2026

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